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University of the West of Scotland


Disability Support

Procedures for Examination Arrangements

The following are the University's procedures relating to examination arrangements and class tests for students registered with the Enabling Support Team.

Policy

  1. It is University policy to take specific disabilities into account when assessing students' performance.
  2. The aim of special examination arrangements is to establish equitable circumstances under which students can demonstrate their academic ability and attainment but not to advantage the candidate.

Applying For Special Arrangements.

  1. All applicants are notified of the Enabling Support Team as part of the University pre-admission procedures. The onus is on students to notify the University of their anticipated examination needs at the beginning of semester one, by making an appointment to meet with a Enabling Support Adviser.
  2. Students must, however, identify their special examination needs to the Enabling Support team no later than 6 weeks prior to the commencement of an examination diet.
  3. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that appropriate professional assessments, and/or medical certificates , to support the need for any special arrangements are given to the Enabling Support team.
  4. The final decision on each individual student's Enabling Support support is made after a referral to an appropriate assessor eg the Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID), the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB), a National Federation Access Centre (NFAC), an Educational Psychologist, or other appropriate assessor, and after the Enabling Support team has received a copy of the Needs Assessment.
  5. On receipt of an assessment, the Enabling Support team ensure that an Examination Arrangements Form (SN8) is completed, detailing the student's needs. The form is then passed to the Examinations Unit for processing and forwarded to the appropriate Examination Panel Chair and to the Enabling Support School Co-ordinator for Class Tests – see point 20.
  6. All students requiring special exam arrangements are required to check their examination arrangements with Examinations Unit six weeks before the commencement of their examination diet. The Enabling Support timetable will be held by the Examinations Unit.
  7. The Enabling Support team and the Examinations Unit will liaise regularly to ensure appropriate arrangements are put in place for examinations and that any difficulties are addressed at the earliest opportunity.
  8. A copy of these Procedures for Examination Arrangements, will be given to all students registered with Enabling Support when completing the Examination Arrangements Form (SN8). The form will be counter signed by the student and a member of the Enabling Support team.
  9. Six weeks prior to the commencement of the first exam diet of the academic year, all students registered with Enabling Support are invited, by letter, to confirm their modules, arrangements and attendance at examinations. If a student fails to respond, University staff are unable to take responsibility for ensuring that special arrangements will be in place. Students will also be asked to attend an exam modules check meeting if they wish to question their arrangements. If they are unable to attend this meeting they will be requested to contact the Examinations Unit by telephone on in person during the week of the exam modules check.
  10. Students are advised at the meeting in 11. above that standard Appeals Procedures apply.

University Examinations - Special Arrangements.

  1. Special examination arrangements, with the exclusion of class tests, will be organised by the Examinations Unit , e.g. scribe; reader; extra time; transcription; coloured paper etc.
  2. Dyslexia stickers will be made available to invigilators for attachment to examination papers where requested in advance. (Prior discussions will have taken place with the student regarding the implications of the use of the stickers and the system of anonymous marking.)
  3. If a student wishes to use a coloured overlay it is their responsibility to provide their own.
  4. Any additional time for examinations depends on the recommendations made in any assessment or medical certificate. The standard allowance for most candidates will be an additional 15 minutes per hour (25%).
  5. Suitable examination accommodation will be organised by the Examinations Unit.
  6. Word Lists and Formulae Lists are supplied by the department responsible for the examination to the Examinations Unit. It is the student's responsibility to approach academic staff and negotiate word lists and/or formulae lists.

Use Of Equipment In Exams.

  1. The University will supply all special equipment required for examinations unless the equipment is personal to the student eg magnifying glass. If a student wishes to use personal equipment they must submit it to the Examinations Unit 28 days prior to the exam for permission to use it.
  2. The University cannot guarantee a particular model of an item of equipment will be available. The student should ask the Examinations Unit, 14 days before an exam, for permission to see the equipment and to familiarise themself with its use.
  3. If a computer is required, it will not be connected to any network (ie will be 'stand-alone'), Only Microsoft Word be be installed and a printer will be attached. A Computer Technician will be available to address any faults should they occur.
  4. If a computer requires display modifications (colour schemes, font sizes etc) the student should check that the settings are suitable 20 minutes before the examination commences.
  5. Students using a computer will be given a floppy disk by the invigilator. Students should write their name, the date & time and the examination details on the disk label. All work should be saved at very regular intervals on to this floppy disk. Students may print out their answers from the floppy disk immediately after the examination ends. Printing during the examination is not permitted as this may disturb other candidates. Candidates leaving an examination early must return at the stated exam finishing time in order to print off their answers.
  6. Spellchecking is considered to be part of the examination and no extra time will be allocated to execute electronic spellchecking at the end of an examination.

Readers & Scribes.

  1. If a reader and/or scribe is required, the Examinations Unit will allocate this person. The scribe should have a working knowledge of the subject under examination where possible, but should not have a personal interest in the success of the candidate.
  2. A student using a reader or scribe should familiarise themselves with the process before entering an examination.

Transcribing.

  1. Where a candidate has returned their answers in some other form than is immediately accessible, e.g. Dictaphone, a transcript will be produced after the end of the examination by a person who is familiar with the subject under examination where possible, but with no interest in the success of the candidate. The candidate's original answers should be submitted to the examiner along with the transcription.
  2. Where transcription is required because of a candidate's handwriting, this will be transcription without correction and should be carried out by a person able to read the student's handwriting and having knowledge of the subject matter of the examination if possible but who has no personal interest in the success of the student. The student's original script will be submitted along with the transcription. Any text that cannot be transcribed will be clearly indicated both on the original and on the transcribed scripts.
  3. The Examination Unit will provide transcribers for exams but it is the responsibility for the lecturer to provide transcribers for class tests. The Examinations Unit can provide a list of transcribers on request.

Class Tests.

  1. Special arrangements for University Examinations are also applicable to Class Tests .
  2. The Enabling Support Co-ordinator will ensure that the student's lecturers are made aware of a student's particular requirements. (see 7 above). Confidentiality should be maintained at all times.
  3. Class Tests are administered by the academic department. Enabling Support staff or Examinations Unit staff will be available for advice if required. A list of scribes and transcribers is held at the Examinations Unit.
  4. The ultimate responsibility for ensuring that any special arrangements required for Class Tests are in place rests both with the student and the member of academic staff setting the test.

Appeals.

  1. If a student feels they have not been able to perform to the best of their ability in any exams or class tests , for whatever reason, they should use the standard Appeals Procedure.